How the Celtic Tiger rediscovered its teeth

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The former ‘sick man of Europe’ is being held up as an example of how even the bleakest of economies can return to growth

A little more than a year ago, Ireland was widely viewed as the sick man of Europe, with many commentators predicting that it would take more than a decade for the Celtic Tiger to find its feet. However, while it is true that it has a long way to go, the mood has changed and now the country is being held up as an example of how even the sickliest of economies can return to growth.

Only last week, figures revealed that, despite severe austerity measures and anaemic consumer spending, Ireland’s economy grew by 1.6 per cent in the second